Srikanth reaches first 2025 final at BWF US Open; Rounak, Devika exit
Synopsis
Kidambi Srikanth is back in a final — his first of 2025 — after a nerve-shredding three-game win in Fullerton. The bigger story, though, may be 19-year-old qualifier Rounak Chouhan, who toppled world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen before finally bowing out in the semis. Indian badminton's depth is showing up in the United States.
Key Takeaways
Kidambi Srikanth defeated Japan's Yudai Okimoto 22-20, 15-21, 21-19 to reach his first final of 2025 at the BWF US Open in Fullerton .
Srikanth will face Chinese Taipei's Su Li Yang (eighth seed) in the men's singles final.
Teen qualifier Rounak Chouhan , 19 , stunned world No.
6 Chou Tien Chen before losing to Su Li Yang 17-21, 19-21 in the semifinals.
Devika Sihag , the Thailand Masters champion, lost her women's singles semifinal to Denmark's second seed Line Christophersen 15-21, 21-11, 21-15 .
Christophersen reached her first final since the Macau Open in August 2024 .
Kidambi Srikanth, the former world number one, booked his place in the first final of his 2025 season at the BWF US Open Badminton Championship in Fullerton, California, on Sunday, defeating Japan's Yudai Okimoto in a gruelling three-game men's singles semifinal. The 33-year-old Indian veteran prevailed 22-20, 15-21, 21-19 in one hour and 12 minutes, demonstrating the composure that has defined his career at the top level.
How Srikanth Sealed the Win
The opening game was anything but straightforward. Okimoto, the fourth seed, clawed back from an 11-17 deficit to earn a game point, but Srikanth held his nerve, saved the point, and won the next two to clinch the first game. The Japanese shuttler responded with a commanding performance in the second game to level the contest.
The decider mirrored the tension of the first. Srikanth surged to a 10-5 lead, only for Okimoto to draw level at 12-all. Srikanth then strung together six consecutive points before Okimoto pulled it back to 18-all. In the closing stages, the Indian relied on experience and variation of pace to close out the match.
Srikanth will face Chinese Taipei's eighth seed Su Li Yang in Sunday's summit clash.
Rounak Chouhan's Remarkable Run Ends in Semis
Teen qualifier Rounak Chouhan, 19, produced the breakout story of the tournament before his campaign ended in the semifinals. The youngster won both qualifying round matches, then defeated No. 74 Sankar Subramanian, before stunning world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 26-24 in what was widely regarded as the upset of the tournament.
Chouhan followed that with a 23-21, 21-11 win over Misha Zilberman to reach the last four. However, he ran out of steam against No. 46 Su Li Yang, going down 17-21, 19-21. Notably, Chouhan entered the draw as a qualifier — making his run to the semifinals all the more remarkable for a player his age.
Devika Sihag Falls Short Against Christophersen
In women's singles, Thailand Masters champion Devika Sihag could not sustain her early momentum against Denmark's second seed Line Christophersen, losing 15-21, 21-11, 21-15. Sihag had taken the opening game, but Christophersen — a seasoned circuit performer — regrouped to advance in straight fashion thereafter.
The Danish shuttler reached her first final since the Macau Open last August, underlining her resurgent form on the international circuit.
India's Takeaway from Fullerton
The US Open 2025 has offered a mixed but encouraging picture for Indian badminton. Srikanth's run to the final signals renewed competitive form after a difficult stretch, while Chouhan's giant-killing effort against a top-ten opponent will fuel optimism about the next generation. Devika's semifinal appearance, despite the loss, adds to the sense that Indian women's singles is gaining depth. All eyes now turn to Srikanth's final against Su on Sunday evening.
Point of View
But the more significant data point from Fullerton is Rounak Chouhan. A 19-year-old qualifier beating a top-ten player at a BWF event is not routine — and it raises questions about whether India's junior pipeline is finally translating into senior results. Devika Sihag's semifinal run, coming off a Thailand Masters title, adds further weight to the argument that Indian women's singles is no longer a one-player conversation. The US Open may be a mid-tier event, but patterns formed here often surface at bigger stages.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Kidambi Srikanth win the BWF US Open 2025 final?
Srikanth reached the final of the BWF US Open 2025 in Fullerton by defeating Japan's Yudai Okimoto 22-20, 15-21, 21-19 in the semifinal. His final against Chinese Taipei's Su Li Yang was scheduled for Sunday.
Who is Rounak Chouhan and why is his US Open run significant?
Rounak Chouhan is a 19-year-old Indian shuttler who entered the US Open 2025 as a qualifier and reached the semifinals. Along the way he defeated world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen 21-17, 26-24 — one of the biggest upsets of the tournament — before losing to Su Li Yang in the last four.
Why did Devika Sihag lose her semifinal at the US Open?
Devika Sihag, the reigning Thailand Masters champion, won the opening game against Denmark's second seed Line Christophersen but lost the next two 21-11, 21-15 to exit the tournament. Christophersen's experience and recovery from the first-game deficit proved decisive.
Who will Srikanth face in the BWF US Open 2025 final?
Srikanth will face Chinese Taipei's eighth seed Su Li Yang in the men's singles final. Su also eliminated Indian qualifier Rounak Chouhan in the other semifinal.
What is the significance of Srikanth reaching the US Open final?
It is Srikanth's first final of the 2025 season, marking a return to competitive form for the former world number one. The 33-year-old's ability to win a three-game match against a seeded opponent signals that he remains a factor on the international circuit.
